#RateFriday: Go to the App Store and rate 5 great apps right now!

A while ago we asked everyone to take a moment and rate their 5 favorite apps. We really wanted to do something more regular to encourage everyone to give great developers and great apps the great feedback they deserve, but weren't sure how to go about it. Well, Luc Vandal came up with a brilliant idea: #RateFriday.

2014 resolution: Will now rate apps I enjoy (most) fridays. I encourage you do so. Helps both developers and app discovery. #ratefriday

And we're going to steal it! Every Friday we're going to help encourage you to check out their Home screens, see which apps meant the most to you that week — the ones that helped, delighted, encouraged, entertained, informed, or simply made you smile — and rate them in the App Store.

Not only does it help the developers, but it helps us by rewarding the best apps — the ones we want more of! (If you really love an app, and really want to help out even more, take a moment to gift it to a friend or family member who'll love it too!)

Some weeks we'll do this as a blog post, some weeks as a Tweet, or Facebook, ADN, or Google+ post, or YouTube video. Whatever it takes to help get the word out!

Once you've rated your apps, let us know which ones you rated in the comments below. We'll pick one of you at random, and give you a $10 iTunes Gift Card just to say thanks for being awesome (and because who doesn't love gifts, right?)

I didn't take this to mean the apps must be five star apps. I think 4 stars is perfectly fine for an app that is great, you enjoy, but has a few things that would take it from a great app to an app that you "can't live without. Is perfect in every way" app. That is, generally, how I think about it.

4 stars is a great app, has room to be even better.

5 stars is a great app, that you can't imagine it any better. Bonus points come in to play for things like exceptional customer service. Example, shopkick. To me, the app is, currently, a 3/4 star app, but because it is an exceptional experience anytime I contact them, 5 stars, no question.

My five apps:
• Tiny Wings HD - best iPad game, I played this game thousands of times and still can't get to island 11
• Retro for Instagram - best Instagram app for iPad
• Tweetbot 3 - Use this 10 times a day, would gladly pay for it twice
• Alien Blue - My reddit pleasure
• Mailbox - Swipe swipe swipe

(* 99% of the time, I only rate an app if I have I have constructive feedback that I feel can assist the developer to improve their app. The other 1% is reserved for app developers that are obviously attempting to milk people of their hard earned cash.)

Great idea Rene, if you see a problem, find a solution, think 5 is too many though. I've done 3 and it took about 5 mins. Get everyone to tweet their choice as well. Just need to offer a random prize a comment or tweet with #ratefriday and it will take off.